Patriots coach Bill Belichick had little to add to what he’s already said about the NFL’s investigation into New England’s production team filming the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline in Week 14.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Belichick said the Patriots’ football operation had “no involvement. Zero.” The team released a statement this week that said the Patriots.com production team inadvertently filmed the sideline, as they did not know it was against the rules. The content team was doing a video feature on the day-to-day life of an advanced scout, and wanted to get b-roll footage of what that scout was watching, which is against NFL rules.
Belichick fielded a question about what the scout, who surely knew filming the sideline was a violation, was doing during the videotaping.
“He was doing his job,” Belichick said. “That’s what we all try to do. … I just answered the question. That’s it. We have no involvement in it.”
Belichick then grew more frustrated with the line of questioning. He later interrupted a reporter and said: “Do not have anything to add. Do not have anything to add.”
Bill Belichick clarified again that the Patriots football staff had no involvement in the illegal video taping.
A reporter then attempted to ask whether Belichick has reached out to the Bengals…. pic.twitter.com/gvqlsRUuZy
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) December 11, 2019
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With the Patriots, this violation is particularly complicated. They were punished in 2007 for the Spygate scandal when New England was video taping opponents’ sidelines to help steal signals during games.
The difference between 2007 and 2019 is dramatic, however. Teams now indicate significantly less from the sideline than ever, with coordinators relaying plays through headsets (rather than with hand signals). That technological development has made it so that little can be gleaned from a recording of a sideline.
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